Ramiz Raja's proposal of a four-nation tournament on the cards

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja has often committed to including a four-nation tournament in the international cricket calendar. Although the plan is still a fantasy, Raja has given it a shape and is set to pitch it to the International Cricket Council (ICC) at the April 10 board meeting.

As per a PTI report, Raja will propose that the ICC host the tournament annually, taking care of the rule that only the global body has the right to organize a competition involving more than three teams.

India, Pakistan, Australia and England are the teams selected by Raja, with the event host to be decided on a rotational basis.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is unlikely to show any interest in the idea.

"Our Futures Tours & Programme (FTP) is packed. Also, the fact that there are a lot of factors, and as of now, there is no change in the policy of playing them at ICC events. Also, we don't think ICC will be ready to organize a four-nation and Raja's proposal will be turned down," a senior BCCI official said as quoted to PTI.

"The calendar is choc-a-bloc, and also we need to keep players' physical and mental health in mind with so much cricket being played," he added.

The statement is apparent, especially after the BCCI secretary Jay Shah had already downplayed Ramiz's concept, stating that India's bilateral commitments do not allow them to feature in such a tournament.

"With the IPL window expanding and the ICC (global) events every year in the cycle, our primary responsibility is to safeguard bilateral cricket at home, emphasizing test cricket," Jay Shah said.

The concept says, "the quadrangular series will be played on a single league basis around September/October, which is a low cricket period due to the eve of cricket seasons in Australia, India and Pakistan, and the tail-end of the cricket season in England."

"The proposal suggests a potential revenue of USD 750 million. The PCB boss wants the revenue to be distributed amongst the participating nations and other ICC members through a distribution model," a PCB source told PTI.

While Ramiz's brainchild already seemed to have become the talk of the town, it remains to be seen if the ICC gives it a green signal.